CROCUSES 588 
C. spEcIosus (showy). Corms nearly round. Leaves broad, keel 
prominent, appearing about same time as flowers. Flowers large, bright 
lilac, striped within with deep purple; autumn. The finest of the 
autumnal species. 
C. susIANUs (Susian). Cloth of Gold Crocus. Leaves fringed 
along margins and keel. Flowers deep orange, outer segments usually 
feathered with deep brown; February. One of the earliest to appear. 
Also known as C. revolutus. 
C. VERNUS (spring). Leaves } inch broad, appearing with flowers. 
Flowers ranging in colour from pure white to deep purple (never 
yellow), throat always hairy; spring. Plate 256. 
C. VERSICOLOR (various colours). Leavessmooth. Flowers varying 
from purple to white; self-coloured or jcanciaaeerd spring. Also 
known as C. fragrans. 
; hese are very numerous; this following very brief 
Named Varieties. F ; 
selection includes the best known and most popular :— 
Cloth of Silver, white, striped with lilac, | Mont Blane, large, pure white, fine form. 
early. Prince Albert, dark blue-violet 
Golden Yellow, abundant-flowered, large. Purpurea Grandifiora, rich deep purple, 
John Bright, large, dark purple, early. very large. 
King of the Blues, very large, rich purple- | Queen Victoria, pure white, large 
e. Sir Walter Scott, large, white striped 
La Majestueuse, large, white, striped with lilac. 
ith lilac. : 
Crocus corms having sufficient material for a season’s 
flowering stored within them, will flower successfully 
almost anywhere; but to enable them to recuperate and increase after 
flowering, instead of dwindling, they should be planted in a well-drained 
light soil, with a warm, sunny aspect. Where it is desired to utilise 
the corms in successive years, the leaves should be allowed to ripen and 
wither before taking them up. Some amateurs, annoyed by their — 
unsightly appearance in summer, cut them off, thereby causing the corms 
to deteriorate. The unsightliness of the long yellowing leaves may be 
minimised by lightly twisting them into a loose knot. The corms should 
be planted between September and November at a depth of 3 inches, 
the distance apart depending on taste. They may be in single lines, 
several parallel rows, small clumps or large masses. Some of the strong- 
growing kinds, such as the Yellow Dutch, King of the Blues, and Mont 
Blane, may be planted on lawn slopes or banksides, where they have a 
charming effect when in flower. They should be planted irregularly by 
means of a pointed iron crow-bar, making the hole 6 inches deep 
Cultivation. 
